Refrigerating apparatus



March 2, 1937.

L. w] EGGLE'STON REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Fileri Feb. 17, 1933 ulilil I 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 l l l L. W. EGGLESTON REFRIGERATING APPARATUS March 2, 1937'.

F1194 Feb; 17, 19:53

v ill 17 w Patented Mari '2, I 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,072,424

REFRIGERATINGAARPARATU S W. Eg'gleston, Detroit, Mich., assignor .to

Detroit Lubricato'r Company, Detroit,=Mich., a

corporation of Michigan w w Application February 17, 1933, Serial No.'6 57,168

a 15 Claims. (01. 62-101! 1 My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a refrigeration system, and has for an object the provision of a means for circulating a cooling medium through a region or space tobecooled. r

Another object is .to provide means to regulate the coollng effect producedby the circulating medium.

Another object is to provide means for abstracting heat from the circulating medium.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combinationof parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointedout and dis- 1:, tinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as'a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrateda preferred embodiment of my invention, in which drawings 4 Figure 1 is a-top planview of an apparatus I embodying my invention, having certain of the insulating material broken away and having the top closure or cover member removed; Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the cover or'closure member in place and also having part of the insulating material broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical central section of a control means for use in the system; 30 and Fig. 4' is a detail view partly in vertical central section of another form of control means.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, I designates, generally, a box or .con- -3ritainer for receivingmaterial to be cooled or refrigerated. The container l is preferably substantially rectangular and is provided with heaviiy insulated front and rear walls 2, 3, end walls,

4, 5, and bottom wall 6. The insulating medium 40 may be of any well-known, and desired material which will prevent transmission of heat. The top of the container 1 is preferably provided with a cover or closure member 1, which is also heavily insulated and which is provided at its periphery 45 with a series of shoulders or steps 8 cooperating with similar shoulders or steps defining the top faces of the walls'2, 3, 4, and 5. The container l is provided with a metal liner 9 having a bottom wall In from which rise front and rear walls 50 H, l2, and end walls l3, H. The walls l-l, l2,

l3, and Id terminate at their top ends or edges' in a laterally extending,;continuous flange l5 which is out-turned and seats upon the lowermost step or shoulder 8. The inside face of, the

55 cover member I is also'provided with a metal continuous flow conduit.

liner l6 which seats at its periphery on the flange l5. Positioned within the interior of the con tainer l and preferably substantially centrally' thereof, there is arefrigerant medium receiving casing or chamber I! which is-of metal such, for 5 example, as copper or other good heat conducting material; The casing H has a bottom wall [8 which issupported upon suitable heat insulating material l9 supported onthe bottom liner wall Ill. The casing l'l has front and rear walls 10' "tory conduit systems and 26, which are substantially identical, and serve to cool or abstract- 20 heat from the interior of the container l and particularly the chambers 21, 28', respectively.

Each oi-the systems 25 and 26 includes a pipe or tubular member, preferably of copper and,

' semicircular in transverse cross section, having 25' its ends secured to and communicating with the control device. 24, such that the control device together with each tubular member provides a The tubular member of the system 25 has a rearwardly and downward v inclined leg or portion 29 which extends along and is in intimate heat transmitting relation with the side wall 22. The portion 29 is rigidly secured to the wall 22, preferably by soldering the same thereto, which also aids in heat transfer between the portion 29 and the wall 22. The portion 29 extends rearwardly to the liner wall l2, where ,it is turned to provide a rear portion 30 extending along the rear wall l2; The juncture between the portions 29 and 30 defines the 10 low point or portion of the system, the portion 30 being inclined slightly'upward and terminating at the end or side wall l3. At the side wall l3 the tubular member is turned to lie there- "along, as at 3|, at a continuation of the upward inclination of theportion 30. This side or end portion 31 of.thetubu1ar member extends forward to'the front liner wall II, where it is turned to extend therealong, as at 32, and also at an upward inclination. The portion 32 which extends along the wall H is turned inwardly, as

at 33, substantially at the midportion' of the front wall I l and terminates at the control device 24 to which it is connected. The portions 30, 3|, and 32 are rigidly secured in intimate heat .55

transmitting relation to the liner walls l2, l3, and II, respectively, preferably by soldering the same thereto as in the case of the portion 29. In each instance, the flat surface of the tubular 5 member is placed against the wall to .which it is secured. The portion. 29 extends forwardly of the front wall of the casing l1, where it is turned, as at 34, to lie substantially in the plane of the end of the portion 33 and substantially parallel to the wall ii, being communicatively connected to the control device 24. The portion 29 provides a downflow leg and the portions 30, 3| and 32 together with the device 24 provide an upflow leg of the system. The tubular member of system 26 also includes a downflow leg and with the device 24 an'upfiow leg, being, however, secured to the casing wall 23 and to the wall of compartment 28, and therefore the primes of reference characters applied to the conduit portions of system designate like portions of the system 26. v

The device 24 comprises a hollow body 24',

preferably substantially cylindrical and closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 35, see Fig. 3.

25 Through the bottom wall as there is an inlet aperture or port 36 into which is screw-threaded and sealed a T fitting, or the like, 31. The arms of thefitting 31 receive the conduit end portions 33 and 33' which are communicatively sealed thereto by sleeve nuts 38. The chamber 39, within the body 24' and into which the port 36 opens,

is provided with oppositely directed. outlet ports 3) in its side walls. The ports 40 are positioned above the bottom wall and are provided with 35 tubular fittings 4| to which the conduit portions 34 and 34' are respectively connected and sealed by sleeve nuts 42. The portions 34 and 34 extend substantially horizontally from the outlets so that these portions together with the outlet ports 40 40 define high points or elevated portions in the systems 25, 26. Within the chamber 33 there is a plunger or piston 43 carried by a stem 44 rigidly secured, as at 45, to an internally threaded sleeve member 46. The member 46 is provided with external, longitudinally extending splines or ribs 41 which extend into longitudinal grooves 48 in a bonnet member 43 so as to prevent rotation of the sleeve member 46. The bonnet member 43 is screw-threaded, as at 30, into the open top 50 end of the body 24. The sleeve 43 is longitudinally adjustable and reciprocable by means. of a screw member 5| threaded within the bore of the sleeve 46 and carried by a rotatable operating member. The member 52 has an externally 55 screw-threaded portion 53 having .threaded en- 1, gagement with internal screw-threads in a hollow boss 34 depending within the bonnet 49. Upon-the bonnet 43 there is a hollow extension 33 through which the operating member 52 extends; The bore of the extension 33 provides a packing material receiving recess,- containing packing material 36 which is held in position by a coil spring, or the like, 31. A hollow cap member 33 is screw-threaded onto the end of the extension 35 and engages the end of the spring 31 to hold the same under compression. The operating member 52 serves as an adiusting stem for the'plunger 43 and extends through an aperture 39 in the cap member 53. The free upper end of the operating member 32 may be provided with a polygonal portion 30 to receive a key or operating handle by which the member 52 may be rotated. The cover member 1 is preferably provided with an aperture 6| to receive the extension 33 and through which the operating member 32 is accessible for adjustment. The cover member 1 is also provided with openings 32 which align with the compartments 21, 23 for access thereto, and which may be closed by cover plates 63. The open top of the-casing I1 registers with 5 an opening 34 through the cover member 1, this opening being closable by a cover plate 65. The casing I 1 is preferably surrounded by insulating material 56 within which portions of the circulating system conduit members and the device 0 24 are embedded. The insulating material 66 preferably extends between the front and rear walls ii, l2, and is positioned between transversely extending partitions 61, 63 which also serve to form side walls for the compartments 15 21, 23. It may be noted that the circulating system conduit members serve to support the device 24 in operative position. The conduit systems and the chamber 39 are filled with an expansible and contractible liquid, such as alcohol, to a level 20 in the chamber 39 which is above the outlets til and to some such level as the line LL. when the plunger 43 is in raised position and the apparatus is at room temperature.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: 25

A refrigerating medium such, for example, as

carbon dioxide ice is placed within the casing l1 through the filling opening 64 which is then closed by the cover plate 65. The sublimation of the CO: ice within the casing I 1 reduces'the '30 temperature therein and of the casing walls to a very low point and serves to abstract heat from the liquid within the conduit portions 28, 29' in contact with the extending surface provided by walls 22, 23, respectively. The abstraction of 3. heat results in an increase in the density of the liquid in the portions", 29' and starts circulation of the liquid in the circulating systems 23, 26 in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig.

2. The cold or cooled liquid moving through the 40 portions 30, 3|, and 32, and through the portions 30', 3|, and 32, which are in intimate heat absorbing relation to the liner walls, serves to abstract or absorb heat from the compartments 21 and 28. The liner walls provide extended heat 45 absorbing surface for the upfiow legs of the systems 23 and 26. As the liquid in the systems 23 and 26 circulates,- entering the chamber 33 through the port 36 and leaving via the ports 43, the flowing liquid will carry away heat from the 50 compartments 21 and 23 thereby reducing the temperatures therein. As thetemperature of the compartments drops, the heat content of the liquid will also decrease and the volume of the liquid in the systems will contract, causing the level of liquid within the chamber 33 to drop below the line LL. This contraction of the liquid which is in accordance with the heat content thereof will continue as the temperature of the compartments 21, 28 decreases, due to ab- 0 straction of heat from the circulating fluid by the carbon dioxide ice in the casing l1, until the sys- Y tems are in balance or until the level of the liquid drops below the high pointof each system, preferably the bottom edges of the outlet ports 40. 5 As soon as the level drops below the system high points defined by the ports 40, the continuity of the liquid path will be broken and circulation'of the liquid through the systems will cease. If the temperature with the box i should increase 7 after circulation has been reduced or stopped, the liquid inthe systems 25, 26 will expand due to increase in the heat content of the liquid and either increase the rate of flow or again start circulation of the liquid, as .the case may be. 75

Control of the temperature within'the box I may be obtained by the plunger 43. Downward movement of the plunger 48 by rotation of the oper- 89 below the ports 40 by the plunger 43, the lower the temperature will have to drop in the compartments 21 and 28 in order to obtain suflicient contraction of the liquid to bring the level thereof below the ports 48.

In Fig. 4,- I have'shown another form of control device, comprising a substantially cylindrical casing 68 closed at its top and bottom ends and havlngan inlet through its bottom wall. The

inlet 10' opens upwardly through the bore of a w sleeve portion or overflow tube II.

The top or overflow edge I2 of the portion H defines the high point of the systems and the cut-off point for liquid circulation. The interior of the casing 69 is provided with outletports I3, the lower edges of which are below the inlet overflow edge 12 and which are connected to'the conduit member por-' tions 84, 84. The inlet 10 is connected by a nipple I6 to a fitting having oppositely directed inlet ports 16 'for connection to the conduit member portions 33, 33'. The fitting 15 has its interior in communication through a nipple H with a chamber 18 within a casing member 19.

-Positioned within the chamber I8 there is a longltudinally expansible and contractible metal bellows'80 which is closed at its inner endby a head member 8|. 'Acoil spring 82 is positioned within'the chamber 18 and is interposed between the end wall ofthe chamber I8 and the end wall of the bellows member. At its other end, the bellows member 8|) is provided with a lateral flange 83 which overlies the end face of the caslngwall' to close and seal the chamber it. The flange 83 is held in position by a cover member M which is screw-threaded onto the casing it, as at it. The

central portion of the cover member at is provided with a transversely extending sleeve portion 86 having an internally screw-threaded bore 81!. Adjustably screw-threaded in the bore Bl there is an adjustment rod 8b which seats at its inner end against ,an abutment member 89 rigid with the bellows head M. The member 88 is retained within the bore 817 by a cap member 80 which is screw-threaded onto the portion 86. The member 88 preferably extends through an aperture 9! in the member 80 and is provided at its outer free end with a polygonal portion 92 by which the member 88 may be longitudinally adjusted.

It is believed that the operation of the refrigcrating apparatus, when provided with the control device of Fig. 4, will be obvious from the forevided with the control device of Fig. 3. When the apparatus provided with the device of FigHl is placed in operation, the alcohol or other liquidjwill fill the chamber 18 around the bellows- Adjustment of the point at which there will befsufflcientcontraction of liquid to reduce its volume below the overflow point 12 may be accompllshed by varying the capacity of the chamber 18 by means of the adjustment member 88 and the bellows 88.

What I claim and desire tosecure byLetter s Patent of the United States is:

1. A refrigeration apparatus including a com conduit member establishing a closed liquid cir-" cult and operable to abstract heat from said compartment at said portion, means to. abstract heat from said liquid at another portion of said con-' duit member, said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with the heat content thereof, said conduit member having a high point effective upon contraction of the liquid to interrupt the liquid circuit, and means to vary the level of said liquid above said high point.

2. A refrigeration apparatus including a compartment' to be cooled, a container for refrigerant medium, a continuous conduit member having one portion in direct heat exchange relation with said container and having another portion in direct heat exchange relation with said compartment, an expansible and contractible liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difference in temperature of the liquid at saidcontainer and at said compartment, said conduit member having a high point effective upon contraction of said liquid tainer in said compartment for refrigerant me-- dium, a continuous conduit member having one portion in direct heat conducting relation with said container and having another portion in direct heat exchange relation with said compartment, rneansproviding extended heat absorbing surface for said other conduit member portion and disposed in said compartment, an expansible and contractible liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difierence in temperature of the liquid at said container and at said compartment, and said conduit member having a high point effective upon contraction of said liquid due to drop of temperature in said compartment to interrupt liquid circulation.

' 4. A refrigeration apparatus including a compartment to be cooled, said compartment having heatfinsulated walls and a metal liner, 2. container for refrigerant mediumpositioned within said compartment, means insulating said container from said compartment, a continuous conduit member having one portion secured against said liner and having another portion secured to and against the wall of said container, an expansible and contractible liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difference in temperature of the liquid at said container and at said compartment, and said conduit member having a high point effective upon contraction of said liquid due to drop of temperature in said compartment to interrupt liquid circulation.

5. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a container having a metal wall and adapted to contain a refrigerant medium, a continuous conduit member having one portion in intimateheat exchange'relation with said metal Well, said conduit member having another portion spaced from said metal wall and operable to absorb heat, and an expansible and contractible heat transferring liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difference in temperature at said portions, said one'portion including a high point in said conduit member effective to regulate circulation of the liquid in response to variation in the volume of the liquid.

6. A refrigeration apparatus including a compartment to be cooled, said compartment having heat insulated walls and a metal liner, a container for refrigerant medium positioned within said compartment, said container having a metal wall, means insulating said container and said wall from said compartment, a continuous conduit member having one portion secured against said liner and having another portion secured to said metal wall, an expansible and contractible liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit memberdue to difference in temperature of the liquid at said container and at said compartment, and said conduit member hav-- ing a high point effective upon contraction of said liquid due to drop of temperature in said com partment to interrupt liquid circulation.

'7. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a conand contractible heat transferring liquid in said conduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difference in temperature at said portions, said one portion including a high point in said conduit member effective to regulate circulation of the liquid" in responseto variation in the volume of the liquid, and means to regulate the level of said liquid above said high point.

8. A refrigeration apparatus including a circulatory system, means to abstract heat from said system at one portion thereof, said system having another portion operable to absorb heat from a compartment to be cooled and disposed within said compartment, said system containing a liquid adapted to circulate due todiiference in temperature between said portions and operable to convey the absorbed heat to said heat abstracting means, said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with variations in the heat content thereof whereby to vary the volume of the liquid in said system, flow controlling means establishing a high point in the system determining the extent of contraction in the liquid volume which will break the liquid circuit thereby tostop circulation, said system including a variable capacity chamber, and means to vary the capacity of said chamber whereby to vary the level of the liquid in said system above said high point to correspondingly vary the temperature to be maintained in said compartment.

9. A refrigeration apparatus including a circulatory system, means to abstract heat from said system at one portion thereof, said system having another portionv operable to absorb heat from a region to be cooled, said system containing a liquid adapted to circulate due to difierence in temperature between said portions and operable to convey the absorbed heat to said heat abstractingmeans, said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with variations in the heat content thereof whereby to vary the volume of the liquid in said system, flow controlling means establishing a high point in the system determining the extent of contraction in the liquid volume which will break the liquid circuit thereby to stop circulation, said system including a variable capacity chamber positioned below the low liquid level in said system, a bellows member closing and sealing one side of said-chamber, and means to adjust said bellows member whereby to regulate the volumetric capacity of said chamber and thereby to control the level of liquid in said system relative to said high point.

10. A refrigeration apparatus including a circulatory system, means to abstract. heat from said system at one portion thereof, said system having another portion operable-to absorb heat from a region to be cooled, said system containing a liquid adapted to circulate due to difference in temperature between said portions and operable to convey the absorbed heat to said heat abstracting means, said liquid; being expansible and contractibleln accordance with variations in the heat content thereof whereby to vary the volume of the liquid in said system. flow controlling means establishing a high point in the system determining the extent of contraction in the liquid volume which will break the liquid circuit thereby to stop circulation, said system including a casing member having an opening in one wall thereof for communication of the interior of said casing member with the liquid in said system, a bellows member within said casing member and having one end secured and sealed to said casing member, a wall closing and sealing the other end of said bellows member, means engaging said wall to expand said bellows member whereby to decrease the liquid containing capacity of said casing member, and a spring opposing expansion of said bellows member.

11.,Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a compartment for the storage of food to be refrigerated, a liquid circulatory system in said cabinet, means. to abstract heat from said system at one'portion thereof, said system having another portion disposed in said compartment for-absorbing heat therefrom, a heat transferring solid liquid in said system adapted to circulate therethrough due to difference in temperature between said portions to maintain a substantially constant temperature in said compartment, the circulatory liquid conveying the heat absorbed thereby to said heat abstracting means, said liquid being expansible and'contractible in accordance with variations in the heat content thereof whereby to vary the volume of the liquid in said system, said system including an elevated portion effective in accordance with the volume of said liquid to control circulation of the liquid in the system, and means operable to vary the level of said liquid between predetermined range limits and relative to said elevated portion to correspondingly vary the temperature to .be maintained in said compartment.

l2. Refrigerating apparatus comprisinga cabinet having a metallic liner forming a food stor- I age compartment to be refrigerated, a metallic container for a refrigerant medium'positioned in and heat insulated from said compartment; a liquid circulatory system within said cabinet, said system having one portion in heat transfer relation with said metallic container and having another portion in heat conducting relation with said metallic liner, said metallic liner constituting an extended heat absorbing surface of said last-named portion for absorbing heat from said food storage compartment, and a heat transfer- 40 systems having a. junction point constituting a,-

therethrough due to difference in temperature between said portions to maintain a substantially constant temperature in said compartment, the circulatory liquid conveying the heat absorbed thereby to said metallic container for abstraction bythe refrigerant medium therein, said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with its heat content whereby to vary the volume of the'liquid-in said system, said system including an elevated portion eifective in accord ance with the volume of said liquid tocontrol circulation of the liquid in the system.

13. Refrigerating app'aratuscomprisinga cabinet having heat insulating walls defining a compartment, a container for containing a refrigerant medium and disposed in said compartment between opposite walls thereof providing cham bers between the walls of said container and said opposite walls of the cabinet, conduitmeans providing a liquid circulatory system and disposed within said compartment, said conduit means.be-' ing in heat transfer relation with said container and having a portion thereof extending into one of said chambers for absorbing heat therefrom, conduit 'means providing a second liquid circular tory system and disposed within said compart mentpsaid second=named circulatory system being in heat transfer relation with-said refrigerant container'and having a portion-extending.

into another of said chambers for absorbing heat therefrom, a heat absorbingliquid in said systems for absorbing heat from said chambers for said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with its. heat content whereby the volume of the liquid in said systems varies, said high overflow point for the liquid of both. systems,

said high point controlling circulation of liquid through said systems.

14. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having heat insulating'walls defining a compartment, a container for containing a midget-- ant medium and disposed in saidcompartment between opposite walls thereof providing chambers between the walls of said container and said tainer and having a portion thereof extending into one of said chambers for absorbing heat therefrom, conduit means providing a second liq-. 'uid circulatory system and disposed within said compartment, said second-named circulatory system being in heat transfer relation with said refrigerant container and having a portion extending into another of said chambers for absorbing heat therefrom, a heat absorbing liquid 'in said systems for absorbing heat from said chambers for transferto said refrigerant medium, said liquid being circulative through said systems due to the difference in temperature between the refrigerant container and the chambers to be refrigerated, said liquid being expansible and contractible in accordance with its heat,

content whereby the volume of the liquid in said systems varies, and a header member disposed within said compartment adjacent" said container and into which the opposite endsof each of said conduit means connect at vertically spaced points, said header member having an overflow high point for the liquid of both systems for controlling circulation of the liquid.

15. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a container having a metal wall and adapted to contain a refrigerant medium, acontinuous conduit member having one portion in intimate heat exchange relation with said metal wallsaid conduit member having another portion spaced from expansible and contractible heat transferring liquid in saidconduit member adapted to circulate through said conduit member due to difference in temperature atsaid portions, and a headsaid metalwall and operable, to absorb heat, an I er member connected in said circulatory system land providing a high overflow point for controlthe circulation of the liquid.

' LEWIS w. EGGLESTON. 

